The popular German series Balko (1995-2006) chose Tenerife as the setting to shoot the first episode of his new season. It should be noted that the series, which will incorporate the name of Tenerife in its title (Balko Tenerife), registered between 1995 and 2006 audiences of up to six million viewers in each episode, so its return has generated great expectation in Germany.
As it is, the filming, whose investment is estimated at more than one million euros, began on October 21 and lasted until this Sunday, November 21. Some 80 people worked there, of which almost 60 were hired on the island. They are joined by 150 extras and extras who participated in various scenes, such as a vehicle chase in Puerto de la Cruz or a banquet with the German star Uschi Glass.
Guido Reinhardt, head of the production company in charge of filming (Ufa Fiction), assures that they decided to record on the island due to its great landscape diversity, “which offers mountains, beaches and cities”, as well as the percentage of tax deduction available for international productions. The first episode of the new season will be located entirely on the island. More specifically in the municipalities of Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Vilaflor.
The services to the production of Balko in Tenerife they have been provided by Film Canary Islands. The series will be broadcast on the German channel RTL and Reinhardt anticipates that the island will be “a main character in the series, to which it gives a very special character.”
The insular director of Tourism, Laura Castro, has conveyed to the producer her gratitude “for trusting Tenerife for a series as important as this, which has displaced so many professionals and even journalists who have been able to get to know Tenerife because of the filming.” In addition, he pointed out that “about 80 people work in this production, of which 60 have been hired in Tenerife, thus ensuring an important promotion in one of our main markets and, at the same time, generating employment and a local economy. ”.
Other shootings
Tenerife is also hosting the filming of the Danish film these days Hit Big. Produced by Komeetta Film, and with services on the island provided by Orange Valley Canarias, the feature film has traveled through the municipalities of Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz (Las Teresitas, San Andrés highway), La Laguna and Icod de los Vinos.
Filming Hit Big, whose investment in the island will also exceed one million euros, began on October 18 and will run until November 26.
Some 65 people are working on it, of which 35 are local. In addition, more than 140 extras have been hired and several Canarian actors have represented small scenes in the feature film.
